(TibetanReview.net, Nov13, 2017) – A railway line linking Chinese ruled Tibet with Nepal has begun taking concrete shape with the two sides having concluded a preliminary study. The cross-border 100-km railway will connect Kathmandu and Tibet’s border town of Kerung (Tibetan: Kyirong or Kyidrong), reported Nepal’s myrepublica.com Nov 11.

A Chinese delegation including experts on high-altitude railway technology and Nepali engineers jointly concluded that the railway will be underground and cost around Nepalese Rs 275 billion, the report cited government officials as saying. It said the Chinese delegation of 23 members led by Zheng Jian, deputy administrator (vice minister), of China’s National Railway Administration, wrapped up its five-day study on Nov 10.

The report said about 85 percent of the railroad will be underground and will pass beneath the hills from Kerung, which lies at the altitude of 4000 metres, to Kathmandu (1400 metres).

However, report quoted Ananta Acharya, director general of the Department of Railway, as saying, “This was a basic research of the topology and geography. Both sides will later reach an agreement for carrying out a feasibility study.”

The report said the study was part of One Belt One Road (OBOR) agreement which the government of Nepal had signed with China in May.

“The Chinese team is excited to proceed with the project and we have expressed our commitment to take the project ahead,” Acharya was quoted as saying.

Once the railroad is completed, a train from Kerung running at the speed of 120 km per hour will reach Kathmandu in less than an hour, Acharya was cited as saying.